Counsellor
Help people understand their feelings and choices so they can find their own ways to make positive changes to their lives.
About the job
What it's like
Think you can help people make sense of their feelings and change their lives in a positive way? As a counsellor, that's exactly what you'll do!
This role is all about spending valuable time with your clients. You'll provide a safe and confidential environment for people to talk about their thoughts.
Counsellors don't tell clients what to do. Instead, you’ll help people reflect on the choices they’ve made in the past and use those insights to change their future behaviour.
People seek out counselling for many reasons. This includes relationship difficulties, the death of a loved one or everyday stresses. You might have the skills to help with a wide range of issues, or specialise in one area such as eating disorders or addiction.
In most cases, you'll counsel clients on their own during a face-to-face meeting. Although, you could also work with couples, families or groups.
Nowadays, lots of counsellors offer an online video call service. The most important thing is being able to build trust with your clients, helping them to relax in a judgement-free environment.
Your tasks might include:
building a relationship of trust and respect with your clients
talking with your client to agree what topics you'll cover during the sessions
encouraging clients to talk about their feelings
listening carefully, asking questions and making sure that you understand a client's situation
empathising with a client’s issues but challenging them when necessary
referring clients to other sources of help if suitable, such as clinical psychologists or professionals that specialise in certain mental health conditions
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) – find careers information for those who are new to the profession
Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland (COSCA) – explore the country's professional body for counselling and psychotherapy
Disclosure Scotland – learn more about the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- developing a plan
- empathising
- questioning
- verbal communication
- listening
- supporting
- mediating
- building relationships
- reflecting
- positive attitude
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
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Care
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Childcare and Development
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English and Communication
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People and Society
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Psychology
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Foundation Apprenticeship: Social Services and Healthcare
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
You don't need any formal qualifications to work as a counsellor. Although, most counsellors are accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland (COSCA).
In fact, many clients expect their counsellor to be accredited by BACP or COSCA. So, it's a good idea to investigate this. Most employers ask for applicants to be accredited by a professional body, such as BACP or COSCA.
Let's explore the routes you can take to become an accredited counsellor.
College
All relevant HND courses in Scotland meet BACP’s entry criteria. Be aware though, as there’s a difference between BACP-approved and BACP-accredited courses. Many HND courses also allow you to gain COSCA accreditation.
Doing an HND allows you to become a registered member of a professional body, such as BACP or COSCA.
Earning an HND allows you to work on a private basis, but many employers look for counsellors to have a degree.
University
In Scotland, some counsellors enter the profession with a degree in Counselling or Psychotherapy.
You might be able to study Counselling alongside another subject such as Psychology, Sociology or Criminology.
Use the My World of Work course search to find degrees.
Many people enter counselling as a second career because lived experience is a real asset in this profession.
Volunteering in a relevant role can help you build the skills and experience you’ll need to become a counsellor. Search for opportunities on Volunteer Scotland.
All counsellors must have a Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) certificate from Disclosure Scotland.
Want to start working as a counsellor while you're studying a relevant course at college or university? You'll need to become a BACP or COSCA student member before you can practise.
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Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Counsellor'
